IMDb > The Jerk (1979)
The Jerk
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The Jerk (1979) -- A complete imbecile struggles to make it through life on his own, until a strange invention makes him unbelievably wealthy.
The Jerk (1979) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   17,020 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 14% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Steve Martin (story) &
Carl Gottlieb (story) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Jerk on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 December 1979 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
From rags to riches... to rags. more
Plot:
A complete imbecile struggles to make it through life on his own, until a strange invention makes him unbelievably wealthy. full summary | full synopsis
NewsDesk:
(14 articles)
Steve Martin: 'Failure inspires me'
 (From digitalspy. 5 November 2009, 7:26 AM, PST)

Martin And Baldwin Are Your Oscar Hosts
 (From Cinema Blend. 3 November 2009, 5:03 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Steve Martin Carries the Film to the Top more (85 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Steve Martin ... Navin R. Johnson / Cat Juggler / Pig Eye Jackson / Engineer Fred (also as Pig Eye Jackson)

Bernadette Peters ... Marie Kimble Johnson
Catlin Adams ... Patty Bernstein
Mabel King ... Mother
Richard Ward ... Father
Dick Anthony Williams ... Taj Jonson
Bill Macy ... Stan Fox

M. Emmet Walsh ... Madman

Dick O'Neill ... Frosty
Maurice Evans ... Hobart
Helena Carroll ... Hester

Ren Woods ... Elvira Jonson (as Ren Wood)
Pepe Serna ... Punk #1 in Blue Chevy
Sonny Terry ... Blues Singer
Brownie McGhee ... Blues Singer (as Brownie McGee)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Easy Money (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
94 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The film's title in Germany was "Reichtum is keine Schande", which translates as "Wealth is no shame". more
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Navin is chasing Billy on the train, Navin's voice is not synchronized with the audio. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Navin R. Johnson: Huh? I am not a bum. I'm a jerk. I once had wealth, power, and the love of a beautiful woman. Now I only have two things: my friends and... uh... my thermos. Huh? My story? Okay. It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child. I remember the days, sittin' on the porch with my family, singin' and dancin' down in Mississippi.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
You Belong To Me more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
24 out of 29 people found the following comment useful.
Steve Martin Carries the Film to the Top, 13 April 2001
Author: tfrizzell from United States

Steve Martin's out-of-this-world performance is the main calling card of this hilarious comedy. Martin stars as a moron who has been raised by a poor African-American family. One night after hearing some music on the radio, he decides that it is time for him to go find his place in the world. What follows is a poor man's "Forrest Gump". Martin gets into some odd situations and goes from the bottom of the social ladder, to the top, and then to the bottom again. This is a flat-out comedy that is a laugh-a-minute romp. 4 stars out of 5.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (85 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Jerk (1979)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The new phone book's here!! The new phone book's here!! djopdyke
Navin R. Johnson v. Forrest Gump barefootconservative
Song question (possible spoiler) jibanez-1
Funniest Scene? mdtracie
How R rated is it? jaysilentbob37
Brion James? Psychosonic
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